When she discovered she was pregnant, she had anguished over what his reaction would be. While she knew they would both greet their child with joy, it would bring back the sadness that their children would bear the stigma of illegitimacy.
One night as they lay in each other’s arms, he ran a hand over the slight swell of her stomach. “Is there something you have to tell me?” he asked softly, his eyes alight with hope.
“I think—that is, I am fairly certain that I am with child,” she whispered, gazing into his dark eyes. Joy spread across his face as he bent to press a kiss to her belly.
“Those happy thoughts you’re mulling over?” he asked against her ear.
She shook her head, pulling herself from her reverie and snuggled back further into his embrace. “The best,” she murmured.
“I wanted to discuss something with you before Case gets here,” he said after a moment’s hesitation.
Jillian turned around in his arms and looked up, studying his expression. He, too, was concerned with the news Case might bring. She could see the tension etched on his features.
He gazed down at her and cupped her chin, rubbing his thumb lightly over her cheek. Her belly rippled between them as the baby moved in her womb. He chuckled and placed a hand over the mound, feeling the movements of their unborn child.
“What is it you want to talk about?” she prompted, wrapping her arms reassuringly around his waist. She felt the taut muscles across his back, a further testament to the lifestyle they had adopted.
“Why don’t we go to America?” he asked.
Her eyes widened in surprise. “America?”
He nodded his head. He was serious. She noted his solemn expression. “But Justin, your title—your home...”
“My title means nothing and my home is with you.”
His eyes bore intently into hers. God, how she loved this man. “Why America?”
“We can start a new life there. No one knows us—that we aren’t married. It is a vast land—one that we would never have to worry about being discovered in.”
She looked down. “I knew it bothered you more than you were letting on.”
He forced her chin back up so she was looking at him once more. “Never doubt my feelings for you and our child, my love. I only want you to be happy and feel safe. America is a land of opportunities, and it is a place we could use our wealth without drawing any suspicion. We could make our home there and travel the world. There are so many places I want to show you. India...Africa...we could see Italy. I hear it’s terribly romantic,” he finished with a wicked grin.
She smiled. “I would go anywhere with you, Justin. My home is with you, wherever that is.” She rubbed her stomach absently.
Justin watched as she turned back to look out over the ocean. She was rubbing her distended belly, a sure sign of her agitation. He smiled and captured her hand in his. “What worries you, sweetheart?”
He regarded her as she chewed her bottom lip. She was more lovely than ever, the bloom of pregnancy giving her a quiet radiance. Now in her eighth month, she was, at times, unwieldy, and she tired easily, but he had never loved her as much as he did at this moment.
He wouldn’t have dreamed they would be so content in the life they had chosen, but in fact, the past year had been the happiest of all his thirty-two years.
But still, the threat of discovery hung over them, no matter how well they had hidden their tracks. It was time to leave England. The safety of Jillian and their child was more important than anything else.
She glanced up at him. “No worries, as long as I am with you. I am happy as I could possibly be.”
He pulled her to him, molding her body against his. “Jillian, you will always be with me, you know that, don’t you?” He knew she had insecurities—the fact that they weren’t married made her fear that if he ever had regrets, it would be so easy for him to pick up and return to Whittington without her.
It wasn’t that she didn’t trust him. She placed a lot of the blame on her shoulders and a lot of guilt for the sacrifices he had made.
Sacrifices—if she only knew what little he had done in the grand scheme of things. And he would do it all over again, no regrets, no hesitation. To him she was his wife, his whole existence. They couldn’t be more even if they were, in fact, married.
“Yes,” she murmured, the agitation gone for now. “I do know, Justin.” She shifted uncomfortably, placing a hand to her back.
“Come, sweetheart, let’s go back in. You’ve been on your feet for too long. I came out to fetch you anyway. I’ve made us luncheon.”
An impish smile lit her face. “You’ve prepared the food?”
He gave her a mock wounded look. “It’s nothing fancy, but it’s edible.” He curved an arm around her waist and made to help her down the rocky path to the cottage.
